Gold

The Vienna Philharmonic coin is struck in pure gold, 999.9 fine (24 karats). It is issued every year, in four different face values, sizes and weights. It is used as an investment product (bullion coin), although it inevitably ends up in private collections. According to the World Gold Council, it was the best-selling gold coin worldwide in 1992, 1995 and 1996.

A design of musical instruments representing the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the text Wiener Philharmoniker ("Vienna Philharmonic"), can be seen on the reverse of the coin.

The subject of the obverse is the great organ in the Golden Hall in Vienna's Musikverein, the concert hall of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The face value in euros, the weight, alloy purity and year of issue are also inscribed on this side of the coin.

Since 1 February 2008, the coin has also been minted in silver. The design of the silver coin is identical to that of the gold coin, except for its face value of 1.50 euro.

Silver

First minted in 2008 by the 800-year old Austrian Mint, Silver Vienna Philharmonics are pure .999 fine silver bullion coins. Each coin contains one troy ounce of pure silver and measures 1.457" (or 37 mm) in diameter. They are exquisitely beautiful and impressively large coins...and make a handsome and worthwhile addition to any investment portfolio.

Nearly identical in design to the widely popular Vienna Philharmonic gold bullion coin series, each Silver Vienna Philharmonic coin features imagery of the cultural pride of Austria, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The obverse side of the coin is stamped with the name of the orchestra and the word "silver" in German, and features a montage of instruments, including a string bass, cellos, violins, a bassoon, harp and Viennese horn, representing Austria's rich musical and cultural heritage.

The reverse side of the coin features the image of the "Great Organ" found in Vienna's "Golden Hall," the concert hall where the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performs. The country of issue, the silver weight in ounces, and the 1.5 euro legal tender value are also stamped on the reverse side of the coin.

The Austrian Mint, located in the heart of historic Vienna, Austria, has an 800-year tradition of minting some of the most beautiful and technically perfect coins in all of Europe. In fact, the Mint traces its roots back to the year 1194 when an enormous silver treasure—from a ransom paid to free England's King Richard the Lionhearted, taken prisoner in Vienna on his way back from the Crusades—was used to create silver coins for the Austrian empire. Today, the Austrian Mint is one of the most modern and proficient mints in the world and is a leading producer of euro coinage and pure gold and silver bullion coins.